Arizona Native women condemn Trump for 'Pocahontas' remark

During an event at the White House honoring Native American World War II veterans, President Trump referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren as 'Pocahontas.' Sarah Huckabee Sanders later said it's not a racial slur.
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Rep. Wenona Benally speaks at a press conference on Dec. 1, 2017, at the state Capitol where she and others condemned President Donald Trump for his "Pocahontas" remark earlier in the week at an event honoring Code Talkers.(Photo: Samuel Hoyle/The Republic)

"As indigenous women, we are outraged that the president of the United States would use Pocahontas' name in such a disparaging manner, " Benally said. "More so, it was in front of our Code Talkers, revered war veterans who were gathered there to be honored at the White House."

Benally, a member of the Navajo Nation, later said that Trump's actions hijacked the ceremony to honor the indigenous war veterans and made it about himself.

Dawnafe Whitesinger, a Navajo County supervisor, called Trump's "Pocahontas" remark "shameful" and "racially explosive." Remarks like the president's diminish the presence of Native Americans, she said.

Whitesinger is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Violet Duncan, Miss Indian World in 2006, discussed the connection between President Trump's words and a high sexual-assault rate on indigenous women.

"Documented statistics show that one in three women — one in three Native women — will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime," Duncan said. "I believe his incendiary words and his actions create an atmosphere where the exploitation of Native women is further incited."

Duncan is Plains Cree and Taino.

Arizona resident Rob McElwain was at the Phoenix event in support of those speaking, donning signs that read "Dog Whistle Donald," and "Chief Code Talker."

Trump has long ridiculed Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, by mocking her controversial claim of Cherokee and Delaware heritage. Native Americans and others said Trump's remarks were made more offensive because of the circumstances in which he said them, an event marking Native American Heritage Month and recognizing the Code Talkers' unique contributions to the U.S. military during World War II.

"You were here long before any of us were here," Trump told the Code Talkers assembled in the Oval Office. "Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas. But you know what? I like you because you are special."

President Donald Trump, standing left, holds up the card of Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay, center, during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017.(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)